Tag Archives: Android 2.3

Google Nexus S is the first Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) smartphone. This handset is already available in 3G and 4G variants exclusively for the T-Mobile and Sprint customers respectively. Last week, AT&T announced the Google Nexus S smartphone, for its customers in the US. This handset is manufactured by Samsung and it comes with a 4 inch Super AMOLED display, 1 GHz processor, 5 megapixel camera with HD (720p) video recording and more. AT&T customers will be happy to learn that, the much-awaited Google Nexus S smartphone is finally available for purchase exclusively at Best Buy.

The AT&T Google Nexus S allows you to access more than 250,000 apps from the Android Market. This handset also lets you to voice and video chat with your Google Talk friends, over the Wi-Fi or using the 3G/4G connection. AT&T Nexus S comes is available for just $99.99 with a 2 year service agreement. To buy this handset, head over to this page at Best Buy.

Motorola has finally started rolling out the Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread update for its first dual-core phone the Atrix 4G. The Atrix 4G was announced way back at the starting of 2011 with FroYo on-board, and was supposed to get its Gingerbread update sometime soon.

The Gingerbread update for the Atrix 4G brings with it a host of welcome changes, including better system performance and stability, along with improved battery life. Other enhancements include an improved Gallery and Music application, and a new version of MotoBLUR UI, with a new dock. The update will also bring the ability to side-load apps on the Atrix 4G i.e. to install apps other than from Android Market.

Atrix 4G owners should also expect a speed improvement in the Webtop mode of the handset. Firefox 4.0 is also included in this update, so the browsing mode in Webtop mode should also improve. They can also enjoy full-HD videos playback on their handset.

Users can download and install the update on their phone, by going to Settings > About Phone, and selecting the Check for updates option.

It was also rumored that the Android 2.3 Gingerbread for the Atrix 4G, will unlock the boot loader on the handset. Sadly, users who have already installed the update have confirmed that the boot loader is not unlocked post the update.

LG has finally released the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update for the T-Mobile branded G2X, which is basically the European version of Optimus 2x.

The Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread update for the G2X will also squash other serious bugs with the handset especially the random reboot one. G2X owners, who have already installed the Gingerbread update on their handset, are reporting improvements in performance and stability of the phone. The battery life of the handset has also improved noticeably.

Even though the software update brings Gingerbread to the G2X, it does NOT update the kernel to version 2.6.35.xx. The kernel remains the same as the one used in the Froyo, carrying the version number 2.6.32.xx. This means, that the G2X owners will be devoid of all the kernel related improvements which Gingerbread brought.

Sadly, the update can be installed only via LG’s software update application. The OTA update is supposed to go live sometime in the next couple of weeks. Until then, G2X owners will have to use their PC to update the handset.

Frankly, I would suggest every T-Mobile G2X and Optimus 2X owner to flash a custom ROM like CM7 on their handset. The true potential of the G2X/2X is only unleashed, after one installs a custom ROM on it.

HTC Salsa is the company’s first smartphone, which comes with a dedicated Facebook button. This handset allows you to upload photos or update your status, within a single click. This handset has been recently launched in China. Since, Facebook was blocked in china and the Chinese users doesn’t care much about Facebook, HTC ditched the Facebook button and launched this handset in China with a dedicated Sina Weibo button. Sina Weibo is a popular social networking service in China, similar to the Twitter. HTC has also renamed the handset from HTC Salsa to HTC Weike.

“This is the first time for a handset company to cooperate with a Chinese Internet giant, and I think this could be a trend when the mobile Internet era catches on,” said, Ray Yam, China president of HTC Corp.

Today, Google has announced via its blog that its six-months old flagship handset, the Nexus S, is heading to AT&T.

The AT&T version of Nexus S will ship with the exact same specs as its T-Mobile or Sprint version, which includes a 1GHz Hummingbird, 512MB of RAM, 16GB on-board storage, NFC and a 4-inch Super-AMOLED screen with WVGA (800×480) resolution.

Up until now, the Nexus S was available only under T-Mobile and Sprint network. Even though the addition of AT&T will help the Nexus S to gain market share, it does not downplay the fact that the handset is more than 6 months old. The only advantage the Nexus S holds over its hardware-wise superior competitors, is that being a Nexus branded phone, the handset will get Android updates

Interested users, can already pre-order the Nexus S at Best Buy. The handset will hit the Best Buy store shelves on July 24.

Hopefully, if Google ever intends to launch the Nexus S under Verizon’s network, they will do so before they announce the next Nexus handset.

HTC recently launched its second Facebook phone, the HTC ChaCha at an event in Mumbai, India. This device was announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2011 in February. After waiting for more than 5 months, HTC finally released the device in the Indian market. HTC ChaCha comes with a dedicated Facebook button, which allows you to upload photos or add a status update on Facebook with the click of a button.

At HTC, we have always strived to take mobility experience to newer levels and add multi dimensions to our devices. Featuring a dedicated Facebook button and one-touch Facebook access, the HTC ChaCha aims to make it simpler and convenient for its users to share and connect through their favourite social networking site,said Faisal Siddiqui, Country Manager, HTC India. We are extremely pleased to launch the HTC ChaCha in India with Tata DOCOMO, and are positive that this social smartphone will garner a favorable response from Indian mobile phone users,he added.

HTC ChaCha comes with a price tag of Rs.15,990, but you can get the device for around Rs.15,000. This handset is available in 3 vibrant colors – White, Purple and Black. Tata Docomo customers will also get free data as well as other benefits with this handset.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is the company’s most popular Android phone and the world’s first PlayStation certified smartphone. This device was announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2011 in Barcelona. It runs on the latest Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) Operating System and comes with a 4 inch capacitive multi-touch display, 1 GHz Scorpion ARMv7 processor, 5 megapixel camera and much more. This handset was released in the US, exclusively for the Verizon Wireless customers. The Xperia Play ships with 7 amazing games including Madden NFL 11, Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior, Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, The Sims 3, Star Battalion, Crash Bandicoot and Tetris.

This handset was originally priced at $199.99 with a 2 year contract, but Verizon recently reduced the price of this device. Now, you can get the amazing Xperia Play smartphone for just $99.99 with a new two-year service agreement. You will also need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a smartphone data package starting at $39.99/month and $29.99/month respectively. To buy this handset, just head over to this page.

Last month, AT&T announced the HTC’s much-awaited Facebook phone, the HTC Status. This handset is the AT&T’s version of the HTC ChaCha smartphone, which was first showcased at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2011 in Barcelona. The HTC Status comes with a dedicated Facebook button and it is currently available for purchase, exclusively for AT&T customers in the US. If you are planning to buy this device, then check out the complete specs below.

HTC Status is available only in White color with Silver accents. This handset comes with a price-tag of $49.99 with a 2 year service agreement and a $15/month data service. You can also buy this phone without any contract for $399.99. To buy this handset, head over to this page.

HTC and Verizon have started rolling out the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update for the Droid Incredible 2. The update carries the version number 2.18.605.4, and weighs in at around 116MB.

Apart from the bump in the Android version, the update also includes some much needed bug fixes and enhancements. There is a new download manager app on-board, along with toggles to GPS, Wi-Fi etc, in the notification bar. There is also a new dock’, along with a new wireless charging UI.

Some Gingerbread goodies which Incredible 2 owners can also enjoy post the update include better battery life, improved copy and paste functionality and improvements in the performance and stability of the handset. Incredible 2 owners should also expect an improvement in network reception post the update.

The update is already available for download from Verizon’s server. Incredible 2 owners can download the update by going to Settings-> About Phone > Software Updates, and selecting the Check for updates option.

It is ironic that the Droid Incredible 2 got its Gingerbread update, before Verizon’s first 4G LTE phone the HTC Thunderbolt. Hopefully, the Thunderbolt’s Gingerbread update should land in a few weeks!

After numerous leaks, Motorola and Verizon have finally announced the successor to the Droid 2 the Droid 3. Unlike the Droid and the Droid 2, Moto decided to announce the Droid 3 in a very quiet manner.

The Droid 3 sports a 4-inch display with qHD (960×540) resolution. This might sound good on paper, but sadly, the display is a PenTile one, similar to the Atrix 4G and the Droid X2. The handset is powered by a 1GHz dual-core OMAP processor, and a PowerVR SGX540 GPU, which handles the graphics department. The device packs in a disappointing 512MB of RAM.

The Droid 3 also sports a slide-out five-row QWERTY keyboard, and is the slimmest Android phone out there with a keyboard (12.9mm). The back of the phone sports an 8MP camera, along with an LED flash, which is capable of recording videos in 1080p HD resolution. There is also a VGA camera in the front for video calling.

Other key features of the Droid 3 include Wi-Fi b/g/n, mini-HDMI port with mirror mode, 16GB of on-board memory, microSD card slot, 3.5mm audio jack, and enterprise features like device and SD card encryption, and complex password support etc.

The Droid 3 runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with a new version of MotoBLUR running on top of it. Interested users can already purchase the Droid 3 online at VerizonWireless.com for $199.99, on a two-year contract. The handset will hit the retail stores in the U.S, by July 14.